Improvement in branding-stamps



R- G. SMEATON. Branding-Stamp. No. 196,711. Patented Oct. 30,1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE- ROBERT G. SMEATON, OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRANDlNG-STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,711, dated October30, 1877 application filed July 21, 1877.

To'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. SMEATON, of the city of Milwaukee, in thecounty of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain newand useful Improvements 'in Machines for and Process of Canceling Stampsand Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a perspective view ofmy invention.

The object of my invention is to furnish a device for canceling ordefacing postage and other stamps and instruments, and also for markingor printing upon the same in such a manner that the characters cannot beerased, or the defaced or canceled stamp or instrument restored forrepeated use, which end is accomplishedby slightly burning the same witha flame and heated disk or die until they are slightly discolored, allof which is more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which A represents the handle, which is provided with atube, B, through its center. The tube B projects beyond the end of thehandle, at which point it is, when in'usc, attached to a hose-pipe, bymeans of-which gas is communicated to the tube B. The opposite end ofthe tube B is provided with a gas-burner, O.

D is a cylinder, which is securely attached to the handle. E is aperforated disk or die, which is securely attached to the walls of thecylinder D. The combustion of the gas takes place within the cylinder D,when the blaze is forced by the pressure of the gas against the diskwhich is heated until it will burn and discolor any ordinary paper orsimilar substance with which it is brought in contact. G are openingsthrough the cylinder for the admission of air and the promotion ofcombustion. H is a diskor shield, the ofiice of which is to reflect theheat and protect the hand of the operator.

A disk provided with raised letters or other figures may be used insteadof the perforated disk, if desired.

My invention is operated in a similar manner to any ordinary stamp usedfor canceling postage stamps, the gas being previously lighted forsuflicient time to get the disk E well heated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A branding stamp-canceler provided with a plate or disk, H, for theprotection of the hand of the operator, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT G. SMEATON.

Witnesses:

K. SHAWVAN, J. B. ENOID.

